Canterbury's mental health row settled

The industrial dispute threatening mental health services in Canterbury has been settled.

The dispute - affecting 1200 nurses and mental health staff at Hillmorton (formerly Sunnyside) and Princess Margaret Hospitals - was settled this afternoon.

The workers have accepted a board pay rise offer of 4 1/2 per cent. Some will get more and there will be increased weekend allowances and leave.

This dispute was settled after a proposal put up at two days of mediation late last week was accepted by a majority of the workers at a meeting today.

The months long dispute came to a head recently when the workers threatened eight days of strikes starting on January 30.

The board had said it would close Hillmorton and other units because of safety concerns and last week began evacuating psychiatric patients. That action was put on hold yesterday pending the outcome of today's staff meeting.

However yet to be settled is the other major wages and conditions dispute between 2000 nurses from 12 of the board's 16 hospitals.

A new proposal in this dispute was put by the board to union representatives during a day of mediation last Wednesday.

That proposal is being put to the 2000 nurses at stop work meetings this week.

- CHRISTCHURCH STAR